Following member Peggy Strom's discharge from the hospital after some major surgery, a dozen or so members welcomed her home with a parade past her new home.  Peggy was sitting at the end of the driveway with her husband Don by her side.  Kay Baker coordinated the parade with Don and the local association to ensure we wouldn't be disturbing Peggy or have an encounter with the sheriff for trespassing in North Oaks.  Even though Peggy & Don live in a short cul de sac there was a traffic jam as we pulled in led by my vehicle with a flashing yellow overhead light compliments of Mark Stange.  There were two dump trucks, a pickup and a Bobcat removing an evergreen on the street shortly followed by a Geek Squad van.  As Kay Baker (I think it was her) commented before we got moving, "It is great to be doing something fun for a change."  I think we are all starting to suffer from the quarantine blues and this was a great way to cheer up Peggy and to get out of our homes.  Since we were all in separate cars we maintained the appropriate social distance.  In the exercise of my arbitrary and capricious power as club president, I decreed all who participated got a makeup.

 

Although Flaherty's will be able to open June 1 food service will only be allowed on the patio under Gov. Walz's order.  No one will be allowed inside.  Consequently, we are going to continue to meet weekly via Zoom for the foreseeable future.  I will make a small reservation for a real happy hour at Flaherty's patio on Thursday, June 5, at 5 pm.  Let me know if you feel comfortable enough that you will be able to attend.

 

Kent Peterson has really demonstrated Service Above Self with his work on the Suburban Ramsey Emergency Coalition joined by members Stephanie Cosgrove, Ken Hola and Mark Stange.  Our club has already donated $1000 in "seed money" to the coalition.  We also donated $100 in support of a Rotary District 5960 grant to help the coalition as one of the co-sponsors along with the Roseville and New Brighton/Mounds View Rotary Clubs.  Individual contributions are also being solicited.  See Kent's e-mails for information on how to contribute.  Ken and Mark are working on a virtual run/walk fundraiser scheduled for late June.  The coalition will use funds to assist with housing and food deprivation for those hurt by the pandemic in our community.

 

The results are in for the selection of a club visioning statement.  The winning club statement is, "Striving to make a better world, locally and globally, through service above self."  Look for that statement to appear on the club website.  Thanks to Dennis Erno's team of Anoop Mathur, Mark Stange and John Suzukida for developing the visioning statements and to Al Ramos for setting up the Survey Monkey balloting to select the winning statement.  If someone asks what we do as Arden Hills-Shoreview Rotarians, answer we strive to make a better world, locally and globally, through service above self!

 

The pandemic has caused the cancellation of the Slice of Shoreview and, consequently, our bingo fundraiser.  The craft beer tasting is in doubt, as presently park pavilions can only be used under Gov. Walz's order for gatherings of 10 or fewer people.  Put on your thinking caps and come to the June 2 Zoom meeting with your ideas on what our club can do to raise funds for our activities in the 2020-21 Rotary year under President Glenn Bowers.  Ken Hola will lead the planning session.  New ideas will be welcome.

 

The peaceful transition of club administrations will take place on July 7 when the gavel passes to President Glenn and I get to wear to wear the coveted Past President's pin.  Thanks to everyone for all you have done in the past Rotary year.  My last President's Corner will be in the next newsletter and I hope to summarize our club's accomplishments over the past year.

Member Birthdays

 

Today's speaker was Mary Sue Hansen, Executive Director of the Suburban Ramsey County Family Collaborative (SRFC).  Since 1998, SRFC has operated as a Joint Powers Board to assist families, which means they are not directly providing services themselves, but instead partnering with others to identify needs and connect people with the services they need.  Their work is guided by constantly asking this question:  "How are the children?", with a primary focus on food and housing insecurity.  They work with four school districts: 621 (Mounds View), 622 (North St. Paul/Maplewood/Oakdale), 623 (Roseville), and 624 (White Bear Lake).  And they have partnerships with many county and social service providers.  Mary Sue is one of only two employees of the Collaborative working to make all this happen and has been there since it's inception 21 years ago.  SRFC is one of the partners in the newly formed Suburban Ramsey Emergency Coalition, of which our club is a part.  The coalition has been created to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic locally by raising funds, sponsoring virtual events, donating goods and providing volunteers.